#20BooksofSummer: Mini Reviews

Catching up on my #20BooksofSummer with a few mini reviews of some stuff I’ve read.

Brotherhood by Mike Chen

While a lot of Star Wars fans are quick to criticize Disney for some of the choices they’ve made since acquiring the franchise, you’ve got to give them credit for getting a lot of things right.

Case in point: Brotherhood.

Set between episodes II and III, Mike Chen weaves a compelling tie-in story about the friendship of Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi. Not only does it add some nuance to the big-screen epics from the prequel era, but it gives new shades to the recently completed Obi Wan Kenobi.

All that while telling an entertaining story that, at times, makes you forget it’s a tie-novel. This may be a new gold standard for great tie-in novels.

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Yes, I know I’m a couple of years late when it comes to reading Where the Crawdads Sing. I tried once before but the copy I checked out of my local library was due before I could really get into it.

And if there’s one thing Crawdads needs, it’s time to get into it.

That’s not a bad thing — but it does mean I had to be in the right mood for it.

This is a novel more about character and setting. The story spends long passages exploring the world of the bayou and less about the mystery that (tries) to drive the overall narrative. It feels like a book that would be best read on the front porch in an old rocking chair.

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When She Was Good by Michael Robotham

I’ve been reading a lot of Michael Robotham books this year.

So, at some point, you’d think fatigue might set in and I would become immune to his charms.

Hasn’t happened yet. And When She Was Good only left me anxious to read more of Robotham.

A second installment in the world of Cyrus Haven and Evie McCormack is a welcome thing. And this one explores a bit of what led Evie to the point at which we met her in Good Girl, Bad Girl.

Robotham balances character moments with a compelling mystery for a novel that, quite frankly, I didn’t want to end. Really good stuff here and I’ll be back for the next installment.